Generally speaking pedophilia, hebephilia, and other such things are classified as a stunted growth mental disorder and are naturally caused due to either a hormonal issue or brain development issue. They can also be due to abuse or other issues that affects a person’s childhood in a negative way. Typically childhood abuse or malnutrition.

So generally speaking for the most part they think exactly the same way as you or I would. But due to said development issues, their brain does not change sexual preferences with age. Typically other factors also stay regressed in relation to social interaction. Its almost exclusively never just sexual preferences.

Some tests have indicated hormonal medication can actually help with the issue. In other cases therapy can help.